An introduction and Vintage Posters - The perfect life

Monday 2 September 2013

An introduction and Vintage Posters - The perfect life

I'm always hoping to bring you guys a fresh perspective on the beautiful world of vintage paraphernalia but sometimes this is easier to say than do. So what better way to achieve this than to ask one of my lovely fellow vintage vixens to join us here? That's exactly what I've done, you can thank me later.

So without further ado, it's my pleasure to introduce our new guest blogger - Annie Ef! 

You either love them or hate them. There's no middle ground. They are explicit, sexist, racist, and just straightforward. Whenever I come upon one, I always imagine a white guy in a suit, smoking his cigar, drinking his whiskey, and coming up with marketing ideas. Political correctness? Pffff.

 If you look at the world through vintage ads goggles, things seem to be so… easy. You know exactly what the commercial is for, and the message it conveys. Don't believe me? Here, take a look:

A bottle of ketchup with a cork you can unscrew? *You mean a woman can open it?*

A commercial for Dormeyer electronics store? Just read through it, there's nothing to add.                                                                                                                                                                                   






It not only shows the store off, it gives you tips. Wives, cry just a little. Husbands, go buy what she wants before she starts to cry. It's that simple.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The image painted by those ads is very clear. The man is independent, smart, strong, and handsome. He gets his women, and he does so thanks to our cigarettes!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             





                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 He then falls in love with the sweet girl next door. She, on the other hand, is pretty, a bit silly and clumsy, and she needs her men to protect her. She might not be too smart, and messes up sometimes, but he forgives her.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

They live in this paradise for a while, then a baby comes along. It's obvious that parents want their children to have a good start.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Your kid isn't doing that well in school, seems a bit slow? Get your medical advice from us! We take care of you 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Speaking of medical advice, did you know that more doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarettes?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 However, your dentist recommends Viceroys.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Lucky Strikes on the other hand are good for weight loss. Take your pick!

Vintage ads took care of you. People who made them understood your problems, and wanted to help you with them. The product they tried to sell was the solution to your every day struggles. This might be the reason why they are so appealing. Yes, they are offensive, and yes they paint a sugary version of life. At the same time they are down to earth, they portray simple people with simple problems. It's easier to relate to a housewife trying to make her husband happy, than it is to a supermodel. The ad tells you how to fix your problem, promises you a better life, if you only buy what they are selling!

Now, I see why a lot of people don't like vintage commercials. They take harmful products, package them nicely, and sell as medicine. They show women as naive and completely dependant on men. Then again, when's the last time you turned your TV on? Were those ads that different from what we're used to now?